How to Buy and Use a MetroCard in NYC
In NYC, the MetroCard is how fares are paid on our public Subways and Buses. Public transportation is the Cheapest way to get around our fair city other than walking, so if you're visiting NYC you will NEED a MetroCard to get around.
MetroCards are available all over New York City. Subway stations are one good example of where you can buy a MetroCard. You can purchase them at machines like the ones in our video and you may also find MetroCards for sale at small convenience and grocery stores all around NYC. If in doubt, just ask one of our friendly local residents where the location of the nearest MetroCard purveyor can be found. Do NOT buy a MetroCard from a random person on the street.
Subways and Local Buses cost $2.25 per ride. Transfers are free from subway to subway, bus to bus, subway to bus, and bus to subway. Just swipe the MetroCard again at the transfer location and the card will apply the transfer. This applies to everything except transfers between Subway lines. For Subway rides transfers, you cannot exit the station you are in. You MUST remain inside the station and transfer to one of the available Subway lines there. So, you do NOT need to swipe your MetroCard again to transfer between subways. Be sure to look at a Subway Map prior to planning your trip (yes, we have a link below).
Express Buses cost $5.50 per ride. They are larger and more comfortable than regular buses, and are good if you have a need to get to somewhere more quickly than a regular bus or subway will take you.
There are three types of MetroCards Available:
Single Ride MetroCard - $2.25
Comes with one free bus/bus transfer (Must request from Bus Driver). No subway/bus or bus/subway transfers with this card. This MetroCard expire two hours from time of purchase, so you must use it quickly. It can only be purchased at MetroCard Vending Machines.
Pay-per-ride MetroCard - $4.50 to $80.00
Available in any increment between these two prices. If the card is greater than or equal to $8.00 you get a15% bonus. For Example: $45.00 will get you 23 rides and $90.00 buys 46 rides. The more you spend, the better the deal. With a pay per ride card, you can pay for up to 4 people at a time to ride. You don't have to throw these cards away -- you can refill them at any MetroCard machine.
Unlimited Ride MetroCards
Good for Unlimited rides for the time periods specified below, but there are 2 important LIMITS -- The card cannot be used again at the same subway station or the same bus route for 18 minutes. This also means you cannot pay for multiple people to ride, unless of course you wait 18 minutes to swipe the card for each person.
4 Main Types of Unlimited Ride MetroCards:
1-Day Fun Pass
Cost: $8.25
Unlimited subway and local bus rides from first use until 3 a.m. the next day. Sold at MetroCard Vending Machines and at neighborhood stores. GET this one if you plan on taking 4 or more rides in a DAY!
7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard
Cost: $27
Unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight, 7 days from first day of use. GET this MetroCard if you plan on taking 4 or more rides in a WEEK!
14-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard
Cost: $51.50
Unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight, 14 days from first day of use. This MetroCard is protected against loss or theft when purchased at a vending machine with a credit or debit/ATM card. GET this one if you plan on taking more than 22 rides within 2 WEEKS!
30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard
Cost: $89
Unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight, 30 days from first day of use. This card is protected against loss of theft when purchased at a vending machine with a credit or Debit/ATM card. GET this one if you plan to take more than 39 rides in a MONTH!
For more Information regarding MetroCards and public transportation in New York City see the NYC Links below.
One last tip: When you use a Pay-per-ride MetroCard, the machine you swipe the card at will show you your remaining balance. There are also machines located in subway stations that are dedicated to that purpose.
Metrocard Close Up
Before the invention of the Metrocard, small brass-colored metal coins were used to pay the toll for our subways and buses. These coins were known as "tokens" and were sold by the New York City Transit Authority to help speed the flow of traffic into our subways and buses. That was one reason that the machines were not designed to take real currency. The other reason was that you can't have machines filled with money all around NYC, they just wouldn't be able to withstand out crafty criminals!